Psychology (PSYC) 355
Cognitive Psychology (Revision 5)

Revision 5 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version
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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online with eTextbook
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Social Science. Course can also be used to fulfill Science area of study (credential students only).
Prerequisite: PSYC 289 or PSYC 290
Precluded course: PSYC 455 (PSYC 355 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for PSYC 455.)
Téluq equivalency: PSY 4001
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
PSYC 355 has a Challenge for Credit option
Overview
PSYC 355 introduces students to research and theory in human cognition. Topics covered include an historical review of developments that led to the emergence of cognitive psychology, an overview of perception and attention, a review of basic memory research, practical aspects of memory, and semantic memory, and a survey of the major research issues in psycholinguistics (language comprehension and language production) and thinking (problem solving and decision making).
Outline
- Unit 1: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
- Unit 2: Perception and Attention
- Unit 3: Memory
- Unit 4: Spatial Cognition and General Knowledge
- Unit 5: Psycholinguistics
- Unit 6: Thinking
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 355, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the examination. The weighting of assignments is as follows:
Unit Quizzes (6 quizzes) | Research Paper | Final Exam | Total |
---|---|---|---|
30% | 35% | 35% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbook
Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.
Matlin, M. W. (2013). Cognition (8th ed). New York: John Wiley & Sons
A print version of the eText may be available for purchase from the publisher through a direct-to-student link provided on the course website; you can also acquire the textbook on your own if you wish.
All other materials are available online.
Challenge for Credit Course Overview
The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.
Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
- Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
- Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures
Challenge Evaluation
The challenge requirement for PSYC 355 is a written invigilated examination and research paper. To receive credit for the PSYC 355 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least "D" (50 per cent) on the examination and obtain a composite mark of at least "D" (50 per cent).
Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 5, August 10, 2015.
View previous syllabus